Interesting story that Manute Bol's birthday was made up and he was probably much older.
Manute Bol may have been 50 when he played in the NBA | Fox News
The 7-foot-6-inch shot-blocking phenomenon was brought from the Sudan to the United States by former Cleveland State coach Kevin Mackey in the 1980s. Mackey told the sports site Zagsblog that he made up Bol's birthday out of thin air when he got him here.
āI gave him his birthday because they didnāt know how old he was,ā Mackey said. āEvery athletic door is open at 19, every athletic door is closed when youāre 35. He was probably 40, 50 years old when he was playing in the NBA.ā
Mackey, who is now a scout for the Indiana Pacers, brought Bol over in 1985 and came up with a birthday -- Oct. 16, 1962 -- that would make sense for a player looking to play college and then pro ball.
āIt was in October, I wanted to make it after September 1,ā Mackey said. āI wanted to make sure he was young enough because he didnāt have an age. I think he was [in his 40s], I really do. But thereās no way of ever really knowing.ā
Manute Bol may have been 50 when he played in the NBA | Fox News